HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning May 12 1992WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, May 12, 1992
The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 1000 N.
Forest, 2nd floor, by Chairman Ken Henderson.
Also present:
Larry Harris
Dennis Vander Yacht
Absent:
1. GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT: HOUSING ELEMENT ASSESSMENT
(JOHN HARMON, DAN TAYLOR, MICHAEL CARP) (AB92 -204)
Topics discussed: Planning Only grant; need for obtaining housing data; work and
plans of the Housing Authority; bond guarantees by the County; affordable housing; need
for obtaining grants and county land; land banking; need for public education re affordable
housing; streamlining the permit process; waiting lists for available housing; stumbling blocks
faced by the Housing Authority (money!).
Persons speaking: Harris; John Harmon, Executive Director of Bellingham Housing
Authority and Whatcom Housing Authority; Michael Carp, Director, Housing Division,
Opportunity Council; Henderson.
2. COUNTY LANDS DIVISION (AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE
COMMITTEE) (AB92 -205)
Topics discussed: 40 acre minimum zoning; increase in applications for ag divisions;
clarification of the law on breaking off pieces; application; purpose of the zoning; potential
additional conditions to the zoning law; current status of application processing; possible
moratorium or other limitations placed on further applications.
Persons speaking: Carl Batchelor, Agriculture Review Land Committee, Planning
Commission; Evelyn Nowicke; Henderson; Harris; Dan Taylor, Planning Dept., Fred
Nowicke.
3. FRIENDS OF SUMAS MOUNTAIN: FORESTRY PRACTICES PERMIT (15
MINUTES)(NO DECISION WILL BE MADE AT THIS TIME UNLESS THE
COUNCIL HAS RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM MATT BRUNINGO,
STATE OF WASHINGTON GEOLOGIST) (AB92 -003)
Topics discussed: information just received from Drs. Easterbrook and Babcock; Swift
Creek slide; unique geologic conditions on Sumas Mountain; DNR's conditions for logging;
effect on Nooksack Basin water sources; request Friends of Sumas Mountain has of the
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Council; time constraints facing Council on this issue; DNR's response to this new
information; possible expectations if an EIS were done; class 3 vs. class 4; TATs intentions
to begin right away, now that the permit is in their hands; larger issues involving the entire
Sumas watershed area; requirements of an appeal process (basis for, financial commitment);
slide possibilities.
Persons speaking: Jean Westgate, Friends of Sumas Mountain; Henderson; Bill
Schmidt, DNR; Bob Sanders, TAT; Bill Purnell, B. D. Purnell and Associates; Tom
Thornton; Gordon Scott; Vander Yacht, Fred' Nowicke.
HARRIS MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THAT THE DNR PERMIT
FOR APPLICATION #FP1914650 BE APPEALED AND THAT A TEMPORARY STAY
OF ACTIVITY BE APPLIED FOR.
The motion failed 2 to 1 with Harris voting for.
HENDERSON MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO SEEK A STAY
OF ACTIVITY UNTIL A DECISION ON THE QUESTION OF AN APPEAL CAN BE
MADE AT COUNCIL'S NEXT MEETING ON THE 26TH OF THIS MONTH.
The motion carried 2 to 1 with Vander Yacht voting against.
4. REQUEST BY TED HOLTZHEIMER TO HAVE HIS PROPERTY DOWN
ZONED FROM GATEWAY INDUSTRIAL TO RURAL ZONE; AND TO
HAVE THIS REZONE TAKEN OUT OF SEQUENCE (SPONSORED BY
IMHOF AND BRENNER; PREVIOUSLY HE WAS DENIED THIS
REQUEST BY THE PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, THEN
HE WITHDREW HIS REQUEST PRIOR TO THE EVENING COUNCIL
MEETING) (AB92 -123)
Topics discussed: financial burdens to Holtzheimers; following the process in order
of application; previous recommendation from Committee; procedure needed to bring the
matter to Council.
Persons spealdng: Ted Holtzheimer; Harris; Henderson; Vander Yacht; Bob Woods.
No recommendation will be carried forward from Committee.
Dan Taylor, Planning, requested that the housing issue be addressed again by the
Committee. He would like to give some input re financing. Taylor's schedule for researching
the housing issue would be this summer. Other items discussed: SEPA, surface mining.
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ATTEST:
Nancy Acting Clerk
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Ken Henderson, Chairman
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